Why don't we pay more attention to a company that represents us on an international level, that connects us within our country and with those we love?

Bryony, the same question could apply to our currency, a god-awful collection of greens on an old and weathered sheet of paper that's plastered with dead white men. But the answer lies at the top level: government. Has the government (specifically our's) ever been aesthetically concerned with its identity? Whether the post carriers, space program, currency, or government identity itself?

I have found that in continental Europe yellow is more the prominent colour of the postal service. Italy, France, Germany and Spain all have yellow as the colour of their vehicles and post boxes. Usually with the logo in blue. The Royal Mail uses yellow as a secondary colour to red moreso than it does blue.

I'm also surprised by the lack of post-horn insignia, I always assumed this was a global device. Wings present a more modern take on the mail system, representing an international service. I wonder if the post horn has lost favour to the wing.

Actually, the USPS WAS radically altered to a more brand friendly point of view in the 1990s by the Postmaster General of the time who not-so coincidentally was the husband of a branding consultant based in Nashville. When he ran the Tennessee Valley Authority -- or TVA -- previously, he also, with her assistance, oversaw the rebranding of that organization, a part of the federal government.
Although blue became the dominate color for the TVA, the history of blue with USPS already existed (like Red in England) and so is probably more a function of history -- and all those post boxes -- than anything.
Also note, that as of right now -- and this is set to change -- Japan Post is also Japan's state-controlled banking system, especially for savings deposits of rural residents. (And a frequent system whereby Japanese politicians fund local building projects.)

The British Royal Mail tried, a few years back, to brand themselves as more than just "the post office". They even adopted a generic corporate moniker, Consignia. It failed miserably. You can read about it on BrandChannel.

Come on, I'm sure you could find a better picture for the mexican post service, this pic is only missing a mule!

Check out: http://www.palaciopostal.gob.mx/

Has the government (specifically our's) ever been aesthetically concerned with its identity? Whether the post carriers, space program, currency, or government identity itself?

Should this be excused? or should "somebody" do "something"?

Come on, I'm sure you could find a better picture for the mexican post service, this pic is only missing a mule!
Indeed I did. It was also the best example of all the different countries for the remote village point I am making. Is it stereotypical? Only if you want to see it that way, since as a Mexican I am used to seeing it be this way (and Royal Mail didn’t have anything that would serve my needs).

(And the music on that site [Palacio Postal] made me avoid it on purpose.)

I spend more time at the post office now than I have in many years. I send and recieve a lot of packages, so I actually go inside a few times a week and look around at the place while I'm waiting. Luckily, I go to a small, easily accessible post office here on the island and the wait is usually short and often taken up with local gossip and chit chat.

But I have to say that the Canada Post "brand" is heavily leveraged, and used consistently enough to have a recognizable look. They have a wide variety of branded envelopes and packaging materials, posters and commemorative items (stamps and coins sets from the Royal Canadian Mint), along with t-shirts and tchochkes like post-box piggy banks and little bears dressed in postal outfits. Barf. Ahem.

So I would say that a great deal of attention is given to the design and branding of the postal service (and I am beginning to suspect that their main line of business is in the sale of collectible items, rather than mail delivery) ... it's just not exactly to my taste (or probably, to yours).

This is one of those areas, like the marketing of candy bars, where the design is dialed to appeal to the vast majority of the population. And, much to my eternal horror, it seems that most Canadians like things I do not like (witness our government).

By the way, I also noticed and admired both the Italian Postal identity and Britain's, when I was there. I think it might be safe to say that Italians generally have better taste than we do, and as for Britain, while the logo type for Royal Mail is an abomination ... well those cast metal post boxes are just so goddamned cute!

Most of them have the branded boxes and collectibles, but overall I find rather hideous. Everything is too big, too bold, too over the top for me. Most of the websites have a shopping sections where you can purchase these items (unless they don't work or are coming soon), but especially the most collected item across the world: stamps.

I agree Marian those English mailboxes are beautiful, if only they didn't have to be associated with that awful logo. If only one could live consistency of quality...

I 'm less concerned about their choice of colors... if only they could deliver packages that weren't mangled or opened. How do they manage to stuff my 9" x 12" envelopes in those 4"x 4" x 12"
apartment postal boxes?

bryony wonders should "somebody" do "something"? Yes, somebody should design instead of letting the government get away with what they call "design."

in 2004 alone, 3,268 letter carriers were attacked by dogs.

Oh, thats rich. 50 of those incidents must've come from my block. Whenever Kitty (my dog) is on the porch, and the substitution carrier is on the march, the entire neighborhood goes postless.

In this US Postal Service Logo growler Tony Spaeth calls our current mark "strained and instantly dated". THough I agree Raymond Loewy's design is better, I think its just barking. Theres no real science here.

Please have a look at Polish post its branding is slightly different from others because of the historical context
http://pocztapolska.pl/

I have found that in continental Europe yellow is more the prominent colour of the postal service.

Yellow strikes again with the Swiss.
I kind of expected something different. Am I alone here?
Interesting manipulation of the Swiss cross. Ouch.
swiss post

I am particularly bothered by the white underscore in the Swiss Post logo.

Maybe because of the personal closeness that I have with Canada, US and Mexico I have to point out the similarity between these logos and wonder if the touching borders have anything to do with it. From color, to rules, to shapes, to overall size and shape, direction, slant...Am I reading too much into these?

I agree the Swiss Post logo is not that good with the underline. Overall not many stand out as being great marks.

Here is another post company to the mix - New Zealand Post - I like how alot of the promo material only uses their mark and not the logotype (not many examples of this are on their website though).

I have to say that I'm very taken with Kenya's logo. It does the bird=flight=fast mail connection much more subtly than more familiar marks.

The Canada Post brand is one of the few Canadian governmental brands I actually enjoy. *sigh* Now the Ontario trillium logo has been "updated". I have no words, really for this.